Description
This One-Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is the ultimate cozy comfort food. Tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach are cooked together with pasta in a rich, garlic-parmesan cream sauce—all in a single pot for easy cleanup.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil (or sun-dried tomato oil)
1 tablespoon butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta (uncooked)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups fresh baby spinach
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then add to the pot. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side until browned (it doesn’t need to be fully cooked yet). Remove chicken and set aside.
2. Add butter to the same pot. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Pour in chicken broth, heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Stir to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer.
4. Add the uncooked pasta and stir well. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and sauce has thickened.
5. Stir the cooked chicken and Parmesan cheese back into the pot.
6. Add the spinach and toss gently until wilted.
7. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. If sauce is too thick, add a splash more broth. Serve hot.
Notes
- Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for the best flavor; drain them before chopping.
- Stir the pasta occasionally while it cooks to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Leftovers reheat well; add a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half, but be careful not to boil it too vigorously to prevent curdling.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 110mg